French Secretaires

Secretary, chest with a drop front and two lower doors that open to reveal a polished mahogany interior. Images five, six, and seven show the piece's interior drawers and shelves.

French 19th Century Brass Inlaid and Mahogany veneered Directoire Style Cylinder Bureau A 19th century mahogany cylinder bureau with the rectangular top surrounded by a pierced brass gallery, above two mirrored panelled doors, the roll-top opening to reveal a sliding leather writing surface surmounted by three drawers and a shelf, above two frieze drawers, on fluted circular tapering legs headed by asperges and terminated by cast sabot. The mirrored paneled doors, and the roll top are distinguished by its brass inlays that beautifully frame and outline the design of the item. Together with the brass handles, the brass gallery and the brass toupie feet this cylinder bureau displays...

Secretary à battant - Jean-Francois Dubut Elaborately crafted bureau à battant, Paris circa 1760, Transition, Jean-Francois Dubut rosewood, amaranth, violet and ebony veneered on o...

This stunning French Louis XV secretary desk, crafted in Paris around 1750, is a remarkable example of 18th-century artistry and sophistication. Standing on four elegant curved legs ...

Circa 1810. French Empire Mahogany Secretary With Ormolu Fittings & Trim

19th Century Charles X Writing Desk with secret compartment. Gorgeous piece. Age appropriate wear on wood and red leather top, see detailed pics.

This exceptional French Louis XV secretary, crafted around 1770, is a stunning example of 18th-century craftsmanship. Featuring breathtaking ...

Marvelous 19th century French Empire three-drawer escritoire with lovely Breche africaine marble top. Having detailed bronze mounts in urn and floral motifs, columnar supports with p...

This directory secretary was crafted in 1810, yet the condition of this desk seems practically new. The dark wood color is a beautiful stained walnut. There are two big lower drawers...

The later breccia marble top over two paneled doors opening to reveal shelves, above a drawer over a fall front with an interior fitted with drawers and compartments, and two further...

A Japanese style carved wood cabinet, with a painted decor imitating Japanese lacquer, ornamented with flowers, birds and butterflies. Opening onto two drawers and a paper filer, the upright-secretary door is also fitted with red velvet. Surmounted by a drawer and asymmetrical shelves, composed in the Japanese « zen » spirit, the cabinet stands on four legs joined by an engraved stretcher. The great influence of the Far-East, through China and Japan, in the second half of the 19th century French art could be found first in painting and soon after in decorative arts and furniture as well. Following the Franco-English military campaign led in 1860 against the Imperial army in China, the French troops of Napoleon III brought back from the Summer Palace, a part of the Chinese Imperial court treasure, which will make up the famous Chinese Museum of Empress Eugénie at the Fontainebleau Palace. The French artists won’t be long to take inspiration from those exotic and sumptuous objects for their creations, as they used to do in the 18th century, when the best French cabinet-makers adapted the Chinese lacquers on the luxurious royal chests. But the influence of Japan, at the Meiji period (1868-1912), came also very quickly to France, thanks to the opening of the country in the middle of the 19th century, as well as the development of traveling and the amazing Universal Exhibitions, in which Japan participated for the first time in 1867 in Paris. Then many Japanese objects and prints were imported to France and to all Europe, and for which some collectors spent already fortunes. With Manet and Impressionists generation, the passion for Japanese art, more than a simple taste for an exotic style, was still in fashion until the turn of the 19th century. It provoked not only a craze among the French aristocratic families as well as the wealthy Paris high society, wishing renew their mansion inner decoration, but turned also to a real revolutionary movement among the “avant-garde” artists. Those artists, whoever they were, painters, cabinet-makers or designers of ceramic, bronze and crystal objects, adapted then those techniques and naturalistic motifs unknown until this time. Christofle, very famous since 1867 as a silversmith, was also one of the leaders among the inventors of Japanism. He knew how to use Japanese elements to his own splendid works made in silver or “cloisonné” enameled bronze. During the 1878 Paris Universal Exhibition, Christofle presented with great success his life-sized bronze Japanese ladies torcheres, executed by the renowned sculptor Guillemin. Another famous company to be mentioned, is “L’Escalier de Cristal”, producing art objects and furniture, all of high standard quality and innovating much with their Japanese decor. Highly remarked during the Universal Exhibitions, “L’Escalier de Cristal” collaborated with the greatest artists, such Gallé and Rousseau for glass- and ceramic wares, and the cabinet-makers Lièvre and Viardot, whom made furniture including sometimes authentic Japanese elements. In 1872, Alfred Perret and Ernest Vibert opened in Paris, at 33 rue du Quatre-Septembre a store that offered “natural bamboo furniture and cane seats” and all kinds of textile fittings for furniture. This furniture used for winter gardens and terraces of mansions knew then a resounding success. They developed their business around 1884 with their Japanese style furniture, very close to that executed by Gabriel Viardot (1830-1906). In 1886, the company appearing in the category of “Chinoiserie and Japoneries” offered, in addition to furniture and seating creation, works of art and inlaid furniture directly imported from the Far East ; an activity that expanded rapidly. Their exotic fantasy furniture presented at the Universal Exhibition of Paris in 1889 and 1900, rewarded them two silver medals. In 1894, the company was listed under the name “Perret et Vibert”, headed by the son of Alfred Perret and Ernest Vibert. The same year, they redesigned their store on rue du Quatre-Septembre, creating ten new show-rooms, showing complete furniture sets of Japanese and Chinese style inspiration. It was not until 1895, that the company was finally named “La Maison des Bambous” and organized then in their shops an “exhibition of country furniture and seats for castles and villas”, which was visited by Empress Eugenie to furnish her villa Cyrnos at Cap Martin. She actually was a regular customer of the “Maison des Bambous” as she bought repeatedly furniture. In October of the same year, the king of Greece...

An 18th century, period Louis XV Secretaire in exquisite Rosewood and burl walnut with a grey veined marble top. The fall-front features an inlaid marquetry design in various exotic ...

A Superb Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Louis XVI Style Bureau à Cylindre Possibly François Linke for Maison Krieger In the manner of Adam Weisweiler, Possibly by François Linke for Maison Krieger Cajou, platane trellis-parquetry, ébène and buis stringings, the rounded corner marble top above three small drawers, the cylinder front opening to a gilt-tooled leather lined writing slide and five small drawers, the frieze fitted with three drawers, the central drawer, with spring-loaded secret release, is decorated with an ormolu relief plaque which depicts a group of putti at play, the two side drawers with hidden key...

Writing furniture / bar furniture Piano lacquer in black high gloss Original Art Deco, France 1930s Dimensions: Width: 103 cm height: 117 cm Depth: 37 cm

18th Century French Louis XV Transition Marquetry Gilt Bronze Desk Bureau Plat An 18th century gilt-bronze mounted double-face desk or bureau plat with herring-bone marquetry. The k...

Antique French Chinoiserie secretaire à abbantant. This cabinet is finished with bamboo trims arond rattan finish chinoisery laquered bla...

Elegant and functional, this stunning quarter sawn oak secretary was crafted in France in the mid-19th century and is comprised of three pieces. It features a top shelf cabinet with ...

Small desk with fluting Walnut, shellac hand polished Early Art Deco, France around 1925 Dimensions: Width: 90 cm height: 72 cm Depth: 55 cm.

Rose veneer on oak. High-rectangular body with finely veneered wood on four feet. Foldable writing board (leather cover missing), a drawer, lower wing door. Gilded bronze mountings. ...

A rare 18th century French Louis XV period chateau bonheur du jour or secrétaire handcrafted of walnut by very talented artisans in Lyon for a wealthy chateau owner near Villeurbanne, circa 1750s. This impressive antique French secretary features a chapeau de gendarme crown above a pair of carved serpentine doors with brass mesh grilles and beautiful green and gold damask fabric backings that open to reveal a painted interior with two display shelves. Three carved drawers are below. The lower section features a flat serpentine shaped writing surface that lifts opens to reveal plenty of storage above a carved, scalloped apron with C-scrolls and a center carved shell motif. Raised on four elegant cabriole legs ending in scrolled French toes. This grand Lyonnaise French library desk...

A beautiful walnut Secrétaire à Abattant in the Empire style of the 19th century, The top bears a rounded rectangular fossil marble top above a substantial fall door, inlaid with a ...

French Empire Secretary Desk, 19th Century – Mahogany Veneer, Marble Top, Bronze Details This stunning 19th-century French Empire secretary desk...

A Louis XVI style gilt bronze mounted parquetry and marquetry fall-front Secrétaire with a marble top. Stamped to the carcass ‘10298’. This elegantly shaped Secrétaire is deco...

Superb Art Deco desk/secretaire by Primavera. It is made of a beech wood structure, all faces entirely covered with leather (parchment). All angles are reinforced with chromed metal....

Massive secretaire with flap in marquetry of cubes on the doors and sides and bronzes (partly gilded): the flap covered with leather inside opens on...

A French Neoclassical commode, with hidden secretary and original hardware, from the turn of the 18th and 19th century. This antique commode from France gives the appearance of being a three drawer chest at first glance. However, discreetly hidden behind the upper "drawer" is in fact a fall-front, which opens to reveal a small writing desk with three open cubbies for organization within. The lower portion of the chest houses two full-sized drawers. The rectangular-shaped top has pronounced and rounded front corners, which carry through down the side posts and are flute-carved. Each drawer front is adorn with brass trim and retains the original brass (and really great) hardware; a pair of rectangular bail pulls with a beautiful Neoclassic escutcheon set at center. This commode is presented upon conical legs with exaggerated tops that canopy over their tapered feet. The rich fruitwood has a wonderful old patina throughout. Note that there have been some prior repairs to the top. This late 18th century French...

This parquetry desk has the attributes one would expect when bearing the name to one of Paris leading retailers of objet deluxe. It is bombe...gently swelling and raised on cabriole legs. It is applied with oval porcelain panels which we have not dismounted but are to Sevres standard. It extensively mounted with bronze chutes sabots and moldings of various sorts. Including a bronze pierced plaque with the monogram of the owner. It is in a small way, highly evocative of 19th century Paris at its best. This company flourished between the consulate and 1867 when it closed. It enjoyed Royal patronage and was certainly a leading supplier of luxury goods of the highest quality. Maison Giroux, the famous curiosity and luxury goods shop, was situated at No. 7 rue du Coq-Saint-Honoré and in business from the time of the Consulate until the end of the Second Empire. The business was founded in 1799 by Francis Simon Alphonse Giroux, cabinetmaker and official restorer of Notre Dame. “Maison Alphonse Giroux” also known as “Giroux & Cie” specialized in producing ornate objects d’art and technically sophisticated furniture. Patronized by various members of the French Royal Family, including Louis XVIII, Charles X, Henri...

19th Century French Louis Philippe Pine Secretary ~ Bookcase is an unusual combination of tailored elegance melded with a casual impression providing both storage and a work surface,...

The 19th Century Carved and Painted French Oak Secretary is an antique piece of furniture that features painted oak and nice carvings. This elegant secretary desk showcases the craft...

Exquisite Louis XVI drop front desk, France 1780, walnut root veneer with details in cherry, plum and boxwood veneer and Marquetry. The special so...

Large cylinder desk in mahogany and flamed mahogany veneer in the Empire style. This secretary with semi-cylindrical flap has eight drawers with pa...

Walnut secretaire cabinet with a flap door and a secret drawer, French polish. France, circa 1940.

Small Art Deco writing desk with walnut and burr walnut veneer, three drawers and a flap door opening onto a small desk and storage area in marquetry and light walnut. Very good qual...

Unique, Beautiful and rare Week Drawers Cabinet, elegant small chest of drawers in wood marquetry in frieze, ebony, amaranth fillets and Greek ebony on the drawers. Marquetry on the...

Dimensions D: 40 cm (15.75") H: 317 ( MAXIMAL HEIGHT) cm W: 80 cm (31.50")

Desk with mirror attachment - Bureau à cylindre France Mahogany Directoire circa 1800 Dimensions: H x W x D: 149 x 97 x 50 cm Description: Top-mounted desk standing on tapered rou...

An Impressive Louis XVI style gilt-bronze mounted secrétaire à Abattant, In The Manner Of André Charles Boulle. This drop-front writing cabinet or secrétaire à abattant is finishe...

A late 18th century French provincial secretary made of cherry wood. Solidly cherrywood body standing on 6 feet with moulded sides, slight...

Pierre Balmain; Fashion designer; French Design; 1980s; France; Cabinet; Sideboard; Secretaire; Mid-Century Modern; Paris; Walnut; Brass; Pierre Balmain walnut cabinet, an original design crafted by French designer Pierre Balmain himself in the 1980s. Immerse yourself in the timeless elegance and exceptional craftsmanship that this stunning piece embodies. Meticulously constructed with a lustrous walnut veneer, this cabinet showcases the allure of natural wood grains, lending a touch of warmth and sophistication to any space. The use of premium materials ensures its durability and longevity, making it a valuable addition to your home. What sets this cabinet apart is its original mark and signature, an authentic testament to its prestigious lineage. Every detail has been carefully considered, including the brass lining that seamlessly incorporates the side panels with the top, exuding a harmonious blend of materials and textures. You'll find more remarkable designs from the Pierre Balmain collection...

An Exquisite Late 19th Century Louis XVI Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Marquetry and Parquetry Bureau a Cylindre The stepped rectangular top with pierced three quarter gallery ab...

19th Century French Louis XV Style Ormolu Mounted Boulle Secretary Desk Having a writing section along with a two door commode for mail secretary need...

"Émile Gallé Game Table in Walnut and Marquetry of Veneered Wood with a Floral Thistle Motif (c. 1895). Émile Gallé’s game table is an exceptionally refined work of art, perfectly e...

This large secretary desk is mounted in our French workshops and delivered fully assembled. The overall dimensions of the box itself are Widt...

A masterpiece of French craftsmanship - a Napoleon III era ladies writing secretary desk, circa 1860. The piece of furniture has a slender, high structure, with a richly decorated f...

The brèche d'Alep marble top above a long frieze drawer, the hinged fall front with gilt-tooled brown leather writing-surface, the fitted interior with four open compartments and a long drawer, above two cupboard doors, the interior with one shelf, on spreading foliate feet, the gilt-bronze banding to the left side signed Millet à Paris.

French 18th century large Louis XVI marquetry desk or bureau à Cylindre An exceptional marquetry secrétaire in the form of a bureau with a cylinder front and on a stand with four ...

The French antique transformation furniture chest of drawers, originates from Paris and dates back to around 1800. The special feature of this...

Louis Philippe secretary with marble top.

A Special Late 19th Century Gilt Bronze Mounted Inlaid Parquetry Secretaire a Abattant The shaped marble top above a long center frieze drawer with a large central bronze plaque of putti at play, the beautiful parquetry drop-down door centered with an elliptical gilt bronze panel depicting ”A Sacrifice to Love”, a classically dressed woman presenting an infant to Cupid, who stands on a pedestal, the plaque has ribbon tied flowers, the inside centered with a mirror surrounded by drawers and pigeonholes, the fall-front itself provides a black leather writing surface, the bottom doors opening to two more drawers and a shelf, the sides decorated with similar parquetry designs. This piece is a copy of the 18th century Secretaire by Jean-Henri Riesener which is presently in the Wallace Collection...

A 19th-century secrétaire abattant of exceptional quality. This beautiful piece consists of a center cabinet with a tooled leather writing surface and five small drawers and a lower...

Secretary scriban walnut 18th century Provençal work in used condition.

A Special Late 19th Century Louis XV Style Gilt Bronze Mounted Marquetry and Parquetry Bureau a Cylindre By François Linke François Linke – Index no. 393 The upper section with a s...

​19th Century French Rosewood Inlaid Louis XVI Ladies Desk Bonheur Du Jour Dimensions : 30" Wide X 19" Deep X 52.75" Tall This stunning ladies ...

Secretaire "à abattant". Fine woods, marquetry, interior with drawers in rosewood and textile, gilded bronze and enameled porcelain; on marble. Signed HYPPOLYTE-EDME PRETOT (Paris, 1...

19th Century Louis XVI Floral and Musical Instruments Marquetry Writing Cabinet or Lady's Secrétaire, also called "Bonheur du Jour" A 19th century bonheur du jour writing cabinet o...

19th century mahogany wood neoclassical style bronze ormolu mounted secretary. The secretary is raised on tapered feet mounted bronze ormolu. The center section is fitted with a pane...

This secretary desk belongs to our ÉGÉE COLLECTION designed by the Parisian designer Eric Gizard. Eric adopts for this collection the refined codes of Scandinavian design, combinin...

c1810 French Empire Flame Mahogany Secretary. Opens to reveal lovely storage space. There are nooks, shelves, a pull out writing surface. There are gilt bronze adornments and there a...

Superior craftsmanship and intricate marquetry characterize this rare secrétaire by Gervais-Maximilien-Eugène Durand, one of the most popular French ébénistes of the 19th century. Th...

A 19th century, French secrétaire with beautiful feathered woodwork, eucalyptus fillet inlay with Louis XVI style detailing. The wood grain veneer is artfully arranged in geometric p...